Tag - NYC

We LOVE Finding out about Fashion in the Hudson Valley. Living so close to Manhattan and knowing that NYC is the fashion capitol of the world, it’s surprising there aren’t more young fashion designers finding their way to the Hudson Valley with it’s less expensive rents for studio’s and design shops.

In these rapidly changing times, NFP fosters the concept of transition, transformation and evolution. Gail Travis has designed a collection of smart geometric shapes and styles that are of the moment, but NOT bound by time! Each piece has the ability to LINK, LAYER, FOLD, SNAP, SHIFT or CONNECT, creating a platform for PERSONAL EXPRESSION.

Designer Gail Travis calls the flagship Beacon studio her base. What started as a pop-up store a few years ago is now open by appointment only. She also has a store in NYC at 215 Mulberry Street.

Beacon NY Flagship Store & Studio

After working in the high-end fashion design world in NYC for 10 years for companies such as Calvin Klein, Shelly Steffee and Vera Wang, Gail was fatefully guided to design her own brand free from mainstream trends. The GAIL TRAVIS Collection is inspired by her surroundings, personal interactions, experience of movement and architecture and structure. Ultimately, these inspirations morphed into the modular building-block of her designs.

We Encourage you to View Gail Travis NFP Collection by clicking the NFP logo below

When in NYC Visit the NFP Shop at 215 Mulberry Street

Photos Courtesy NFP Studio

Comments Off on Capturing Love With Caitlinn Mahar Daniels Photography

The Hudson Valley Story First Spring 2016 Wedding Feature

There is something wonderful about intentional moments when capturing couples and there is a whole different magic that happens when capturing the unintentional moments as well.Caitlinn Mahar-Daniels lives for both!

A traditionally trained photographer obsessed with capturing LOVE between people. She thrives off the positive energy and atmosphere she has the privilege of capturing with her lens!

Caitlinn has been photographing weddings professionally since 2011 and strictly gets her clients through word of mouth. Other happy couples tell more happy couples about their dream wedding. It’s the love that is generated from the couples she photographs that emits an energy and excitement!

Engagement Photographs

Caitlinn recommends if a couple is looking to use their engagement photographs for their “Save the Dates’ they should take that into consideration when booking their session. Engagement photographs can take place at any time while planning the wedding process. She has photographed multiple engagement sessions as much as two years before a couple walks down the isle as well as two weeks before the wedding. If a couple has time to plan, she suggests thinking about a favorite season and involving nature becomes a very important part of the process.

Advice To A Bride From A Wedding Photographer

Something that is really important is that the bride feels a connection with her photographer on an emotional as well as aesthetic level. In Caitlinn’s case many brides or grooms make an inquiry through her website. She responds by finding out basic information about the couple.

Weddings

From there either a phone conversation or a meeting is scheduled. After a meeting and the couple official books the photographer a contract is signed and a deposit is made. That’s when the scheduling and engagement photos are planned. After that, Caitlinn and the couple talk several times before the wedding day to go over a timeline and specific posed photographs. This is an important step in the process since candid’s are mainly taken during the wedding. So it is important to have conversations in advance about the directed and set up photographs.

The BIG Day is spent photographing the getting ready process and details, first look, family, bridal party, bride and groom portraits and the documentation of the wedding. The couples receive their images through an online gallery within two weeks of the wedding and a box of prints and various other materials within a month after their wedding day.

Caitlinn has photographed at numerous locations throughout the Hudson Valley + beyond. The list is too long to mention here. A few of the locations include Boscobel, The Garrison, The Links, The Thayer Hotel, Central Park Boathouse, The New York Botanical Gardens and private homes and estates just to name a few.

Adventure Weddings

Rustic, barn settings, open fields, destination adventure weddings have become very popular and Caitlinn enjoys working with couples that think outside of the box.

Two words of advice she gives is “avoid Pinterest and get your inspiration from within. Think deep within your souls and what comes from your heart and let that guide how your wedding should be”. She’s not saying to abandon tradition, but thinks it’s important for people to truly have the wedding they want to have and not the wedding the think they are supposed to have.

As an example, she and her husband were married at Blooming Hill Farm in the middle of July with 48 guests and every bit of decor came from her imagination and no where else.” Having your family and friends documented in authentic moments are what is truly important.”Other local locations she would like to shoot more at are Full Moon Resort, Ashokan Dreams, The Roadhouse, Shadow Lawn and a list of new B&B’s that have been popping up.

Dream Wedding

About 25 percent of the weddings she now photographs are destination weddings all over the country + beyond. South Africa holds a special place in her heart. She says she has a large social media following from this area and this could be in part to her husband Brian who will be coming on-board as her partner and photographer. Other destination dream locations she would like to shoot weddings at are Iceland, the Isle of Skye, New Zealand and many more. She is also interested in photographing destination elopements and documenting an elopement in Monument Valley would be the absolute dream!

A Re-branding

Caitlinn met her husband Brian in South Africa while photographing a wedding several years ago. He will now be joining forces and they are in the midst of re-branding her brand to her new last name “The Ramsdens” Brian’s mother and sister are both talented photographers in SA so although he is not classically trained in the art, it was a natural transition and he learned the ropes rather quickly. She says “it was definitely in his blood”.

Summer is the time for travel. Nobody knows this better then New Yorkers! In Manhattan and the greater metropolitan area people are leaving by plane, train and automobile.

A great day or weekend trip is coming up to the scenic Hudson Valley. Whether you are Museum and art gallery hopping be sure to include Dia: Beaconwhich includes world famous exhibits from the 1960’s to present.

Spend a relaxing weekend visiting local wineries, take a narrative boat ride tour on the Hudson River, visit the Culinary Institute of America, Walk across the Walkway Over the Hudson. Relax while dining in restaurants and shop in unique local country shops. The Hudson Valley has something to offer for everyone! Be sure to visit theDutchess County Tourism website to find out where to sip + shop + dine + stay here in scenic Dutchess County!

Recently, we partnered with Elizabeth Boutique in Poughkeepsie for a jump start on some great summer looks perfect for traveling via AMTRAK or Metro North into or out of the Manhattan or on your escapade whether it be here in the Hudson Valley or elsewhere.

Elizabeth Boutique in Poughkeepsie by Vassar College has something for everyone. Their clothes and accessories have a feminine, edgy, boho and eclectic look for women of all ages. Here is Kate wearing a flirt skirt in bright papaya and paired with a basic white tank. Accessorized with blue accent summer sandals and a tassel pendant necklace for eye catching detail. This is a great outfit for visiting a local winery or a nite out with friends and family on the town or a great date nite outfit.

When traveling you want to be comfortable and have clothes that have an easy look. That’s why we love this stylish outfit! It’s the same reason you will like shopping at Elizabeth Boutique. Owner Beth likes to focus on bringing quality, versatility and unique clothing & accessories to your shopping experience by developing customer style and assisting them with their wardrobe needs. Customers are the foundation of EB. We buy for their needs!

Easy Weekend Style…A cargo skirt paired with a closet staple the “chambray shirt” tie at the waist for a fitted look and accessorized with a straw fedora and a metal & leather pendant.

Be sure to visit Elizabeth Boutique in your travels whether your here in the Hudson Valley or visiting. They are in the Arlington section by Vassar College where there are other unique shops and restaurants. Their shop carries everything from jeans to dresses and skits and all the dress up or dress down looks you’ll need for a cozy comfortable summer. They also carry shoes, pocketbooks and jewelry.

We hope to see you in our travels. Be sure to tag #TheHudsonValleyStory and #ElizabethBoutique in your new summer clothes!Here is our model ready for travel at the station in an easy over-sized Linen Shirt and a Fitted Black Slip Dress paired with on trend Birkenstock’s with a twist and accessorized with an arrowhead pendant and a drawstring bucket bag.